Lincoln Highway Colo Interchange

Photos 

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The west approach This was arguably the most important intersection in the United State for many years. Known as "Reed-Niland Corner," it was the junction of The Lincoln Highway and the Jefferson Highway. The Lincoln Highway was America's first coast-to-coast highway and the Jefferson Highway traveled from Winnipeg to New Orleans. Charlie Reed's L&J Service operated here until 1966. The curved road behind the gas station is an entrance/exit ramp for this primitive highway interchange. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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The south approach The US Bureau of Public Roads called for a grade separation here in 1936. This bridge was part of a prototype highway interchange design that still exists. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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Looking South Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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The northbound exit ramp This ramp carried northbound US 65 traffic to old US 30, the Lincoln Highway. (US 30 was relocated about a mile south of town in 1966.) Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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Looking south Two curved ramps carried interchange traffic. The ramp on the right carries southbound US 65 to westbound Lincoln Highway traffic and eastbound Lincoln Highway to northbound US 65 traffic. The ramp on the left carries southbound US 65 to eastbound Lincoln Highway traffic and westbound Lincoln Highway to northbound US 65 traffic. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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Looking North on US 65 Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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Oblique View, South Side Within the triangle formed by the highways and ramp, Reed-Niland Corner operated as an Iowa "One Stop" offering a gas station, restaurant and a campground that later became a motel. Today it is a historic site. (A tip of the hat to Lyell Henry, who did the first serious research on this historical highway interchange.) For more about the site, see the Colo, Iowa Website. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2007

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Directional Sign This large concrete sign pointed the way before the grade separation. It was found in, and rescued from, a nearby barnyard where it was serving as a stepping stone for cows to enter the barn. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2004

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Niland Family's Aerial Photograph This photo is on display in the restored restaurant and shows Reed/Niland Corner in its heyday. Notice the grade separation in the lower right corner, the southbound entrance ramp next to it, and the curved ramp that runs along the north edge of the property. Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2004

Map 

Facts 

Overview

Steel stringer bridge over Over Us 65 on Lincoln Highway E-41

Location

Albert City, Story County, Iowa

Status

Open to traffic

History

Built 1938; rehabilitated 1976

Design

Steel stringer

Dimensions

Span length: 37.1 ft.
Total length: 37.1 ft.
Deck width: 34.1 ft.

Approximate latitude, longitude

+42.02500, -93.31667   (decimal degrees)
42°01'30" N, 93°19'00" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")

Approximate UTM coordinates

15/473784/4652600 (zone/easting/northing)

USGS topographic map

Colo

Inventory number

BH 36216 (Bridgehunter.com ID)

Inspection (as of 10/2007)

Deck condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Fair (5 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Poor (4 out of 9)
Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 64.5 (out of 100)

Average daily traffic (as of 2003)

460

Categories 

Update Log 

• March 30, 2008: Updated by J.R. Manning: Added Bridge to "Lincoln Highway" Category
• March 1, 2008: New photo from J.R. Manning
• February 6, 2008: Added by J.R. Manning

Sources 

• J.R. Manning - thekitchenguy [at] sbcglobal [dot] net

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